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Brent Pry's front is first in the country at stuffing runs, and the back end is why Maryland scares me
Brent Pry lost his job in Blacksburg a year ago. Now he is calling this defense for James Franklin, and the front he rebuilt largely through the Penn State portal pipeline looks nothing like what took the field last fall.
Last season the Hokies ranked 103rd in stuff rate, which is just runs killed at or behind the line. Two games in, they rank 1st. They also lead the nation with 32 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Mylachi Williams and Cortez Harris spent the afternoon in the Old Dominion backfield, and paying ODU back for last year felt good.
What bugs me is what happens when somebody does get loose. Quinn Henicle broke a 76 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. When an offense finally wins a snap against this defense, it tends to win it big, and Virginia Tech ranks 136th in explosiveness allowed, near the bottom of FBS. That is a lot of havoc up front with very little insurance behind it.
Maryland is the test. Their offensive line gave up nine sacks all of last season, tied for third fewest in the country. If the rush still gets home against that group, this defense is real.
If Maryland buys a clean pocket and takes a shot over the top, who on this back end do you trust to make the tackle?
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